I hate that Mumbai is pedestrian unfriendly ☹ : Milesh S. | I hate the sense of filth in Mumbai ☹ : Sunishi G. | I love that Mumbai is a land of opportunities ☺ : Madhu G. | I hate the lack of gardens in Mumbai ☹ : Madhu G. | I hate the dirt of Mumbai ☹ : Aditi R. | I love that Mumbai is a safe place for women ☺ : Madhu G. | I hate the inadequate public transport infrastructures of Mumbai ☹ : Saurabh K. | I love the holy songs singing in the train in Mumbai ☺ : Abhijit | I love that Mumbai never sleeps ☺ : Rashair C. | I love that it never gets too cold in Mumbai ☺ : Kshipra L. | I hate the bad civic amenities of Mumbai ☹ : Afrid W. | I love the cosmopolitan culture of Mumbai ☺ : Sarit P. | I love that people from different cultures live and work together in Mumbai ☺ : Saurabh K. | I love the sea in Mumbai ☺ : Pradeep M. | I hate the dirty beaches of Mumbai ☹ : Priyesh Y. | I love the nightlife of Mumbai ☺ : Aditi R. | I love the street food of Mumbai ☺ : Jessica N. | I hate the lack of nature in Mumbai ☹ : Brinda M. | I love the liveliness of Mumbai ☺ : Sanjay B. | I love Marine Drive in Mumbai ☺ : Krupa T. | I love the old British colonial architecture of Mumbai ☺ : Krupa T. | I hate the dirt of Mumbai ☹ : Madhu G. | I hate the non provision for cyclists in Mumbai ☹ : Asheen A. | I love the diversity of Mumbai ☺ : Manish M. | I love the vibes of Mumbai ☺ : Devanshu | I hate the unnecessary honking on the streets of Mumbai ☹ : Krupa T. | I hate the corruption of Mumbai ☹ : Arjun M. | I hate the transportation system of Mumbai ☹ : Aarti G. | I hate the infrastructures of Mumbai ☹ : Rashair C. | I love sunset at beach in Mumbai ☺ : Jayant V. | I love the helpfull population of Mumbai ☺ : Riddhi S. | I hate the behaviour of government people in Mumbai ☹ : Milan N. | I love the inclusive nature of Mumbaikars ☺ : Sunishi G. | I love Mumbai coastline ☺ : Hitesh K. | I love the night life of Mumbai ☺ : Satish | I hate the uncleanliness of Mumbai ☹ : Devanshu | I hate the price of real-estate in Mumbai ☹ : Cherylann M. | I love that Mumbai is a financial innovation capital ☺ : Jimmy P. | I love the vibrant life of Mumbai ☺ : Afrid W. | I hate the poor drainage system of Mumbai ☹ : Irsad S. | I love that Mumbai is home to so many people and cultures ☺ : Arjun M. | I hate the roads potholes of Mumbai ☹ : Arjun M. | I hate the long time of commuting in Mumbai ☹ : Radhika P. | I hate the noise in Mumbai ☹ : Pradeep M. | I love the festival in Mumbai ☺ : Abhijit | I love the traditions of Mumbai ☺ : Dhaval C. | I love the great restaurants of Mumbai ☺ : Radhika P. | I hate that people are not following traffic rules in Mumbai ☹ : Komal S. | I love the sea-link in Mumbai ☺ : Abhijit | I hate the lack of ecofriendliness of Mumbai ☹ : Manpreet | I hate to see homeless people in Mumbai ☹ : Lester M. | I love that Mumbai is being the financial capital of India ☺ : Sanjay B. | I love the better employment opportunities of Mumbai ☺ : Raza A. | I love the social life of Mumbai ☺ : Lester M. | I hate the extremely high cost of living of Mumbai ☹ : Piyush R. | I hate the lack of open spaces in Mumbai ☹ : Anthony D. | I love the beach of Mumbai ☺ : Irsad S. | I hate dirty politics of Mumbai ☹ : Imran S. | I hate the unclean nature of Mumbai ☹ : Sarit P. | I hate the lack of proper urban planning in Mumbai ☹ : Manpreet | I love the culture opportunities of Mumbai ☺ : Dupa P. | I love the good educational facilities of Mumbai ☺ : Stanlay B. | I love the fast life of Mumbai ☺ : Manpreet | I love the colonial areas of Mumbai ☺ : Milesh S. | I love the speed of Mumbai ☺ : Pratik C. | I love the Neo Gothic structures of Mumbai ☺ : Faiyar S. | I love that Mumbai knowshow to welcome festival ☺ : Aarti G. | I love vada pav in Mumbai ☺ : Priyesh Y. | I love the honestly of daba walas in Mumbai ☺ : Kiran M. | I love that there is so many things to for entertainment in Mumbai ☺ : Saurabh K. | I hate the poorly maintained heritage buildings of Mumbai ☹ : Krupa T. | I hate the stressfull life of Mumbai ☹ : Srinibas P. | I love the cultural diversity of Mumbai ☺ : Cherylann M. | I love the safety of Mumbai ☺ : Radhika P. | I love that Mumbai always stand united ☺ : Aarti G. | I hate the noise pollution of Mumbai ☹ : Radhika P. | I hate the crowded trains of Mumbai ☹ : Raza A. | I hate the lack of recreational areas in Mumbai ☹ : Tehsin L. | I love that Mumbai is a city of dreams ☺ : Yogita S. |

Bend It Like Your Working Hours - Flexible Office Timings on Election Day

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BHC Team

Are you a concerned citizen who's trying to make the city of dreams a better place? Well, you probably are since you're reading this Big Happy City article. If so, corporate Mumbai may have some good news for you. Because voting is often a day-long errand, you might be gaining flexible hours on Election Day in order for you to conveniently cast your vote without worrying about skipping work. Now, you no longer need to make the choice of either earning your daily wage or participating in the political process and influencing the city's future.

As only forty-three percent of Mumbaikars voted in 2012, the city's civic bodies and NGOs are trying to collaborate with private firms in order to increase voter turnout. Reports state that Mahindra and Mahindra, Vodafone, and MCX Stock Exchange, among other corporate groups, have all committed to the initiative thus far. However, city-based think tank Mumbai First is working with an additional ten to fifteen private organizations so as to influence their decision to allow for flexible working hours on the 21st of February.

While social media outlets and other platforms have been used to increase awareness and improve voter apathy, "target(ing) the working urban middle class and facilitat(ing) voting from their end to the largest extent,” will be most effective, as firmly suggested by Shishi Joshi, the CEO of Mumbai First.

Numerous companies have even taken to forming internal teams and appointing leaders that have been trying to raise awareness and motivate employees to vote within their branches and offices, affirm multiple reports.

Has your workplace upheld their corporate social responsibility by enforcing any active changes ahead of Election Day, such as flexible working hours? If not, you could discuss the initiative and try to spearhead its implementation so as to be an agent of change and create a positive impact.

Take Away: > Corporate social responsibility plays an important role in Mumbai's well-being, especially during the elections.> Voter turnout in the city is incredibly low, but private firms could help change that. > Targeting the working, urban middle class is the key to making sure that Mumbai gets out to vote in 2017.> Multiple corporate changes such as internal awareness programs and flexible working hours could help increase the voter turnout.> If your own office has not yet joined the CSR initiative, you could spearhead the change yourself and suggest implementing it.